51.   The letter was the second sent by Mejia and the fourth by Dominican officials since Castillo first lodged the accusations in a July televised address.

52.   The itinerary had been agreed two days ago, but on Wednesday Cuban officials changed it, according to another Dominican official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

53.   The Listin Diario newspaper, published in the capital Santo Domingo, reported Thursday that Dominican officials were investigating Alas in order to clarify who owns it.

54.   The loan contract was signed Wednesday in Washington, Dominican officials said.

55.   The reporter contacted those Dominican officials, who called Sanchez.

56.   The request was made last Wednesday at a meeting between U.S. embassy officials and Dominican officials.

57.   The Santo Domingo newspaper Listin Diario reported Thursday that Dominican officials were trying to clarify who owns the firm.

58.   The release said the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong had arrested a Dominican official, who was later released.

59.   The U.S. Coast Guard is training Dominican military officials to interdict drug traffickers and illegal immigrants headed for the U.S. mainland, the U.S. Coast Guard commandant said Tuesday.

60.   They, too, were turned over to Dominican officials.